Scottish Executive

Apprenticeships

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how modern apprenticeships are monitored to ensure quality of experience and outcome for participants.

Iain Gray: I refer the member to the answers given to questions S1W-25230 and S1W-25231 on 14 May 2002.

Apprenticeships

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any differences between the administration and quality control procedures for the modern apprenticeship programme in Scotland compared with other areas of the United Kingdom and, if so, what these differences are.

Iain Gray: These procedures are broadly the same in Scotland and in England. However, in Scotland, training providers are paid on achievement of milestones by individual apprentices. In England providers are paid on monthly profile for the duration of training.

Boundary Walls

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24669 by Mr Jim Wallace on 24 April 2002, how the rule of ownership of boundary divisions on an ad medium filum basis can be ascribed to fences that stand on and mark the boundary where, after specifying the type of fence, the title deeds of the adjacent parties state that the dividing fence is the (a) common and (b) mutual property of the parties to be maintained at equally shared cost by them.

Mr Jim Wallace: It is not appropriate for ministers to seek to interpret the law, as this is a matter for the courts. I am meeting the member on 2 October to discuss issues relating to boundary walls.

Care of Elderly People

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many home help clients there were in each local authority area in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is contained in the following table:

  


Local Authority 
  

2001 
  

2000 
  

1999 
  

1998 
  

1997 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

3,001 
  

3,602 
  

4,766 
  

4,391 
  

4,053 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

1,828 
  

2,052 
  

2,041 
  

2,384 
  

2,306 
  



Angus 
  

1,804 
  

1,802 
  

1,867 
  

1,878 
  

1,885 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

927 
  

973 
  

950 
  

1,032 
  

1,033 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

656 
  

652 
  

601 
  

586 
  

710 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

2,015 
  

1,669 
  

1,880 
  

2,075 
  

1,869 
  



Dundee City 
  

2,445 
  

2,891 
  

2,978 
  

3,240 
  

3,762 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

1,311 
  

1,348 
  

1,398 
  

1,512 
  

1,936 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

986 
  

1,022 
  

1,010 
  

1,207 
  

1,275 
  



East Lothian 
  

1,195 
  

1,287 
  

1,196 
  

1,408 
  

1,456 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

765 
  

847 
  

820 
  

881 
  

826 
  



Edinburgh, City of 
  

5,969 
  

6,393 
  

7,261 
  

7,719 
  

7,839 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

779 
  

803 
  

870 
  

1,000 
  

1,126 
  



Falkirk 
  

2,281 
  

2,287 
  

2,420 
  

2,693 
  

2,717 
  



Fife 
  

5,858 
  

6,496 
  

7,491 
  

7,942 
  

9,272 
  



Glasgow City 
  

8,802 
  

9,763 
  

10,048 
  

11,258 
  

12,425 
  



Highland, The 
  

2,748 
  

2,915 
  

2,999 
  

2,946 
  

3,104 
  



Inverclyde 
  

1,146 
  

1,281 
  

1,311 
  

1,314 
  

1,598 
  



Midlothian 
  

1,256 
  

1,319 
  

1,253 
  

1,253 
  

1,307 
  



Moray 
  

1,063 
  

1,056 
  

1,163 
  

1,161 
  

1,045 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

1,490 
  

1,629 
  

1,696 
  

2,167 
  

2,327 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

2,895 
  

3,075 
  

2,999 
  

3,133 
  

2,140 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

442 
  

465 
  

492 
  

376 
  

385 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  

1,477 
  

1,463 
  

1,479 
  

1,425 
  

1,490 
  



Renfrewshire 
  

2,542 
  

2,453 
  

2,505 
  

2,762 
  

2,672 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

1,491 
  

1,569 
  

1,576 
  

1,563 
  

1,986 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

722 
  

659 
  

514 
  

527 
  

538 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

1,203 
  

1,358 
  

1,199 
  

1,485 
  

1,734 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

2,445 
  

2,629 
  

2,773 
  

2,924 
  

4,047 
  



Stirling 
  

881 
  

921 
  

930 
  

1,427 
  

1,240 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

1,558 
  

1,767 
  

1,760 
  

1,699 
  

1,641 
  



West Lothian 
  

1,552 
  

1,764 
  

1,812 
  

1,926 
  

1,872 
  



Scotland 
  

65,533 
  

70,210 
  

74,058 
  

79,294 
  

83,616 
  



  Source: Home Care Statistical Return H1.

Civil Servants

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a minister can veto the transfer of one of its civil servants to a UK government department.

Mr Andy Kerr: Decisions about the deployment of individual civil servants are management matters for the Scottish Executive and are within the delegated responsibility of the Permanent Secretary and his colleagues.

Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations have been received concerning the working relationship between procurators fiscal and district courts.

Colin Boyd QC: Such representations may be made in a wide variety of ways. On a Scotland-wide basis, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service is represented on the District Courts Working Group and that provides a focus for discussion of a variety of issues.

  The most recent agenda included ways in which procurators fiscal could help courts in the Highlands to meet their target for delays between pleading diets and trials and electronic communication between procurators fiscal and courts.

  From time to time, the District Courts Association makes representations but it has not done so recently. Certain representations were made to the Justice 2 Committee Inquiry into the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and a response was made to that committee.

  At local level, there are regular conversations between Justices, their clerks and procurators fiscal about issues of local application.

Employment

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many manufacturing jobs were created through inward investment in (a) Scotland, (b) Glasgow and (c) Dundee in each of the last five years to 31 March 2002.

Iain Gray: Scottish Development International does not keep records of how many jobs are created by individual inward investors in a given year. The published figures reflect the number of jobs which a company plans to create or safeguard at the time its decision to invest in Scotland was made. The published figures refer only to projects in which Scottish Development International and its partners can claim to have had a significant involvement in ensuring that the project takes place in Scotland. The following figures relate to projects where a company has made a decision to invest or expand and where the main activity of the project is manufacturing. Not all jobs created by a manufacturing project are necessarily manufacturing jobs.

  (a) Jobs in Manufacturing in Scotland

  


Year 
  

Planned New Jobs 
  



1997-98 
  

3,749 
  



1998-99 
  

4,380 
  



1999-2000 
  

5,901 
  



2000-01 
  

4,546 
  



2001-02 
  

1,235 
  



  (b) Jobs in Manufacturing in Glasgow

  


Year 
  

Planned New Jobs 
  



1997-98 
  

73 
  



1998-99 
  

149 
  



1999-2000 
  

190 
  



2000-01 
  

418 
  



2001-02 
  

50 
  



  (c) Jobs in Manufacturing in Dundee

  


Year 
  

Planned New Jobs 
  



1997-98 
  

0 
  



1998-99 
  

30 
  



1999-2000 
  

167 
  



2000-01 
  

112 
  



2001-02 
  

0

Employment

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many manufacturing jobs created through inward investment were lost in (a) Scotland, (b) Glasgow and (c) Dundee in each of the five years to 31 March 2002.

Iain Gray: The information requested is not held centrally.

  For internal purposes, reports of job losses by companies, local enterprise companies and newspapers are monitored. However, the Executive cannot vouch for the accuracy and completeness of this information and therefore does not consider that it should form the basis of a response to the question.

Employment

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many manufacturing jobs were created in (a) Scotland, (b) Glasgow and (c) Dundee in each of the five years to 31 March 2002.

Iain Gray: Information on jobs created is not held centrally. However, information on the number of employee jobs is available from the Annual Business Inquiry. Therefore, the change in the number of employee jobs each year is available

  The net change in manufacturing employment on the previous year was as follows:

  

 

Scotland 
  

Dundee City 
  

Glasgow City 
  



1996 
  

-3,892 
  

1,518 
  

-3,502 
  



1997 
  

5,083 
  

-1,372 
  

618 
  



1998 
  

4,597 
  

1,019 
  

-102 
  



1999 
  

-12,201 
  

-438 
  

-340 
  



2000 
  

-10,079 
  

-241 
  

-1,270 
  



  2000 is the latest year for which data are available.

Employment

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many manufacturing jobs were lost in (a) Scotland, (b) Glasgow and (c) Dundee in each of the five years to 31 March 2002.

Iain Gray: Information on jobs lost is not held centrally. However, information on the number of employee jobs is available from the Annual Business Inquiry. Therefore, the change in the number of employee jobs each year is available.

  The net change in manufacturing employment on the previous year was as follows:

  

 

Scotland 
  

Dundee City 
  

Glasgow City 
  



1996 
  

-3,892 
  

1,518 
  

-3,502 
  



1997 
  

5,083 
  

-1,372 
  

618 
  



1998 
  

4,597 
  

1,019 
  

-102 
  



1999 
  

-12,201 
  

-438 
  

-340 
  



2000 
  

-10,079 
  

-241 
  

-1,270 
  



  2000 is the latest year for which data are available.

Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) financial and (b) other assistance has been made available to Cameron House Hotel by it and each of its executive agencies in the current year and each of the last two years.

Mike Watson: I am unaware of any significant levels of funding or other assistance being provided to Cameron House Hotel, although I understand that the business has received a small grant from Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire.

Epilepsy

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the implementation of revised Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) guidelines on the diagnosis and management of epilepsy in adults to reduce the number of epilepsy deaths and address any deficiencies in the implementation of the 1997 SIGN guidelines (No.21).

Mr Frank McAveety: The revised guidelines are not due to be published until December 2002. The implementation of SIGN guidelines is a matter for NHS boards, in consultation with other authorities as appropriate. SIGN guidelines are best practice clinical guidelines and are not intended to be construed or to serve as standards of medical care. The ultimate judgement on a particular procedure or treatment plan is for the clinician treating the patient to make on the basis of individual circumstances and available options.

European Union

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive at which European Council meetings its ministers have led the UK delegation as defined in Article 146 of the Maastricht Treaty since May 1999, detailing the name of the relevant ministers, the subjects discussed and decisions taken.

Mr Jim Wallace: The following table provides the information requested:

  


Date, Council and Lead Minister 
  

Subjects Discussed 
  

Decisions Taken 
  



8-6-2000: Education Council: 
Nicol Stephen 
  

1. The future challenges and training objectives of education 
  systems in the learning society.
2. Report of education ministers to the Stockholm European 
  Council in spring 2001.
3. The e-learning initiative.
Also considered:
4. Quality indicators and evaluation in school education.
5. Recommendation on Mobility within the Community. 
  

1. To establish the European Year of Languages 2001.
2. That education and training policies would play a key 
  part in follow up of Lisbon European Council.
3. Need for education ministers to feed into the Luxembourg 
  Employment Process. 
  



12-2-2001:
Employment and Youth Council: 
Nicol Stephen 
  

1. Strategies for lifelong learning.
Also considered:
2. Community Action Programme.
3. Leonardo da Vinci.
4. European Year of Languages 2001.
5.Trans-European co-operation scheme for higher education. 
  

To adopt a report on the concrete future objectives of 
  education and training systems, and to discuss the work 
  programme arising from the report at the next Education 
  Council meeting. 
  



5-6-2001:
Health Council: Susan Deacon 
  

1. The EU public health framework programme.
2. Misuse of alcohol by children and young people.
3. Proposals for a tobacco Advertising Directive.
4. Research and information exchange on vCJD. 
  

To include certain rare diseases in the scope of the public 
  health framework programme, and to call on member states 
  to build on existing work on surveillance and prevention 
  of all Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies as they 
  affect human health.

European Union

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times and with regard to what appointments within the EU institutions it has been consulted by Her Majesty’s Government since May 1999.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Scottish Executive is in touch with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including appointments to EU institutions.

Ferry Services

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice and correspondence the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning has had from the European Commission regarding the public service order in relation to the contract for the Gourock-Dunoon ferry route and whether it will publish any such advice and correspondence.

Lewis Macdonald: Discussions between member states and the Commission on such cases are private and confidential and inform internal discussion and advice. As such, this information is exempted under section 2 and 14(b) of the Code of Practice for Access to Scottish Executive Information .

Health

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-26671 by Malcolm Chisholm on 25 June 2002, when the two new immunology consultants are expected to take up their posts and where each such consultant will be located.

Malcolm Chisholm: North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust has made an appointment to one of these posts. The postholder is currently on maternity leave and is expected to take up this position towards the end of this year.

  Discussions are continuing around the most effective use and location of the other post. It should be noted that both posts will be expected to provide immunology services to patients outwith the NHS board area in which they are situated.

Justice

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, following the Surjit Singh Chhokar, Chris Cawley and Gordon Gibson cases, the Crown Office intends to carry out a review into the law on trials with multiple accused persons.

Colin Boyd QC: Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service policy and practice in relation to multiple accused cases is kept under review and decisions in individual cases are guided by available evidence and the particular circumstances of the case. Any review of the law would be a matter for the Minister for Justice.

  It is anticipated that the Criminal Appeal Court will examine the law of "art and part", or concert, in the case of McKay and others, which is due to be heard in the near future. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service will examine the judgement in that case with care and, if necessary, amend its policy and practice.

Justice

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what policies and procedures it has in place to ensure that any complaints made against the (a) Crown Office, (b) Office of the Procurator Fiscal, (c) Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman, (d) Law Society of Scotland, and (e) police forces are dealt with correctly and without prejudice against the complainant.

Colin Boyd QC: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has a complaints procedure, details of which are available on the Crown Office website. The policy is to respond to all complaints quickly, courteously, fairly and efficiently and to take appropriate action when required. In addition, members of the public can, and often do, write to the Lord Advocate either personally or via their Member of Parliament. The Lord Advocate and his officials investigate concerns and complaints made in this way with a view to giving full and objective responses.

  Complaints of criminal conduct by police officers are investigated independently by Area Procurators Fiscal and reported to Crown Office for consideration of a Law Officer. Again details of this procedure are available on the departmental website. The procedures for handling complaints against the police, which do not involve criminal conduct, are regulated by statute. The legislation enables a dissatisfied complainant to ask Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary to review the case. A consultation paper was issued last year with proposals on ways to enhance the independence of the police complaints system and we are currently considering the next steps in light of the responses to that consultation.

  The Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1990 provides for the Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman to investigate complaints about the way in which the Law Society of Scotland has handled a complaint against a solicitor. The Ombudsman’s powers and relevant procedures are set out in sections 34, 34A, and 34B of the 1990 Act and schedule 3. A complaint to the Ombudsman marks the end of the appeals process, and the Ombudsman's written report setting out her conclusions on a complaint is final. The Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman is appointed by the Scottish ministers after consultation with the Lord President of the Court of Session and is independent of both the Law Society of Scotland and the Scottish ministers. Complaints about the service received from the Ombudsman's Office should be made to the Ombudsman. The Scottish ministers may give general directions to the Ombudsman about the scope and discharge of her functions, but do not at any time get involved with individual complaints. The General Directions which came into force on 1 April 1993 are set out in Appendix A to the Ombudsman’s Annual Report for 2001-02.

Legislation

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what primary and secondary legislation it has introduced as the result of requirements made by European Union institutions since May 1999, broken down by institution.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list any written questions lodged prior to 1 January 2002 that had not received a substantive answer by 14 August 2002.

Patricia Ferguson: All written questions lodged prior to 1 January 2002 have been answered.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a reply has been sent to the Lord Justice General in relation to his letter of 11 April 2002 on the Scottish Prison Service Estates Review.

Mr Jim Wallace: Yes, on 27 May 2002.

Prison Service

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what risk assessment it has carried out into the community safety implications of prescribing heroin substitutes and blockers in prison, in order to reduce dependency on heroin following a prisoner’s release.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  Clear guidelines as to prescribing for drug misusers in prison are contained within SPS’ Health Care Standards, a copy of which has been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 20561).

Prison Service

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many daily doses of (a) methadone and (b) the opiate blocker Naltrexone were prescribed in each prison in 2001.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is not available.

Renewable Energy

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the proportion of energy produced by wind power will reach the European Union average.

Ross Finnie: It is not possible to make this forecast. The nature of renewable developments, and their timings, are matters for industry to determine, both within Scotland and the EU. Our policy is to increase the overall proportion of electricity generated in Scotland from renewable sources through use of a range of technologies, not only wind. Our current target is 18% by 2010. On 23 August, I launched a consultation document that seeks views on whether we can achieve a position whereby as much as 40% of our electricity can be generated from renewable sources by 2020.

Roads

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current volume of traffic is on the A77 at the location of the proposed Glasgow southern orbital junction.

Lewis Macdonald: The latest available information shows the average annual daily two-way traffic flow on the A77 just south of the location of the proposed Glasgow Southern Orbital junction to be 28,198 vehicles per day. Morning peak flows were measured at 2,560 vehicles per hour and evening peak flows at 2,805 vehicles per hour.

Roads

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what traffic volume figures are currently used in specifications set for the design of the proposed Glasgow southern orbital junction with the A77.

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27858 on 22 August 2002.

Scotland Act 1998

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an up-to-date list of the cross-border public authorities as defined in the Scotland Act 1998.

Patricia Ferguson: The Scotland Act 1998 (Cross-Border Public Authorities) (Specification) Order 1999 (S.I.1999/1319) sets out the cross-border public authorities as specified under Section 88 of the Scotland Act 1998. A copy of this order can be found in the Parliament’s Reference Centre, Bib. number 23320.

Scotland Act 1998

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail all discussions it has had with Her Majesty’s Government on any modifications which have been made to the Schedule of reserved matters under section 29(2) of the Scotland Act 1998 and what any such modifications were.

Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including issues relating to legislative competence where appropriate. Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998, which sets out reserved matters, has been amended by the following five Orders:

  S.I. 1999/1749 The Scotland Act 1998 (Modifications of Schedules 4 and 5) Order 1999

  S.I. 2000/1831 The Scotland Act 1998 (Modifications of Schedule 4) Order 2000

  S.I. 2000/3252 The Scotland Act 1998 (Modifications of Schedule 5) Order 2000

  S.I. 2001/1456 The Scotland Act 1998 (Modifications of Schedule 5) Order 2001

  S.I. 2002/1629 The Scotland Act 1998 (Modifications of Schedule 5) Order 2002

  Copies of these orders can be found in the Parliament’s Reference Centre, Bib. numbers 23328, 23324, 23325, 23326 and 23327 respectively.

Scotland Act 1998

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what right of appeal is available in the event of Her Majesty’s Government indicating that a function is outwith the devolved competence of the Parliament under section 54 of the Scotland Act 1998 and to which body any such appeal would be made.

Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive and the UK Government will always seek to resolve any difference of view as to whether a function is within or outside devolved competence but if that is not possible Scottish ministers are entitled to act on their view of the position. Schedule 6 to the Scotland Act provides that the Lord Advocate or the Advocate General may institute proceedings for the determination of a devolution issue.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what borrowing powers it and each of its executive agencies have, including limits agreed with Her Majesty’s Treasury where appropriate.

Mr Andy Kerr: The borrowing powers of the Scottish Executive are set out in section 66 (1) of the Scotland Act 1999 which states that "The Scottish Ministers may borrow money from the Secretary of State any sums required by them for the purpose of:

  (a) meeting a temporary excess of sums paid out of the Scottish Consolidated Fund over sums paid into that Fund, or

  (b) providing a working balance in the Fund."

Sexual Abuse

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations have been received concerning the ratio of the number of cases of alleged rape and other forms of sexual abuse that are the subject of court proceedings to those that are discontinued or refused by procurators fiscal.

Mrs Elish Angiolini: The Lord Advocate has very recently received one representation in relation to such ratios in Grampian and will reply shortly. A number of representations on this general subject were made during the passage of the Sexual Offences (Procedures and Evidence) Scotland Act 2002 and it was raised in some of the responses to the Vital Voices consultation.

Sexual Abuse

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions have taken place between Law Officers and the Scottish Law Commission concerning trial proceedings dealing with prosecutions for rape and other forms of sexual abuse.

Mrs Elish Angiolini: No recent discussions have taken place.

Sexual Abuse

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether comparative evidence has been sought and analysed concerning modern court proceedings in other European jurisdictions where rape and other forms of sexual abuse are the subject of criminal investigation.

Mr Jim Wallace: No such information has been sought at present.

Social Justice

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has received about any feedback following the Evaluation of the Dundee Families Project – Final Report in July 2001.

Ms Margaret Curran: Our understanding is that there has been considerable interest in both the project itself and the independent evaluation by the University of Glasgow.

Water Authority

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all those who have sat on the board of West of Scotland Water since the board’s establishment.

Ross Finnie: Full details of water authority board members can be found in the annual reports and accounts which have been laid in Parliament. The full list of those who were members of West of Scotland Water Authority is:

  Prof. Alan Alexander (Chair)

  John Jamieson (Chair)

  Ernest Chambers (Chief Exec)

  Norman Berry

  Mungo Bryson

  Donald Campbell

  Cllr. Gerald Carroll

  Charles Cornish

  Patricia Cox

  Sir Robert Easton

  John Goodwin

  David Gray

  Peter Kennedy

  John Laverty

  Jane McKay

  ClIr. Rita Miller

  Cllr. David Munn

  Cllr. Billy Petrie

  Cllr. Robert Reid

  Cllr. Leslie Rosin

  Ian Smith

  Cllr. Ian Young.

Water Safety

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has held any recent discussions with Her Majesty’s Government concerning changes in legislation relating to the cleanliness of public water supplies.

Ross Finnie: Discussions between officials in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Scottish Executive regarding legislation pertaining to drinking water quality take place on a routine basis. The most recent such meeting relating to public water supplies took place on 5 July 2002.

Water Safety

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice or instructions it has issued to water authorities concerning the need to eliminate the grazing of sheep close to water supplies, for example reservoirs, in each of the last three years.

Ross Finnie: The provisions of The Cryptosporidium Directions 2002 requires Scottish Water to take account of the number of grazing animals on a catchment. Scottish Water does not control the livestock management practices on the vast majority of its catchments and so has limited ability to reduce the risk of cryptosporidium from this source. Where Scottish Water is in a position to control the livestock management practices, such as on part of the Loch Katrine catchment, steps are being taken to reduce the risk of cryptosporidium by eliminating the presence of grazing animals in line with the recommendations of the OCT report from Greater Glasgow Health Board and the risk reduction requirements contained in the directions. The Cryptosporidium Directions 2002 restate the provision in The Cryptosporidium Direction 2000, to take account of the provisions of The Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002. The detail of the directions is unchanged.

Water Safety

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to seek the elimination of cryptosporidium and any other organisms and contaminants from domestic water supplies.

Ross Finnie: The policy of the Scottish Executive was set out in Water Quality and Standards, Investment Priorities for Scotland’s Water Authorities 2002-2006 published in August 2001, which set out clearly the intention to improve all water treatment facilities assessed as high and moderate risk for cryptosporidium by 2005. This statement is underpinned by directions and regulations.

  The Cryptosporidium Direction 2002 (which updates The Cryptosporidium Direction 2000 in the light of the Water Industry Act 2002) requires the elimination of cryptosporidium oocysts from treated drinking water. The Water Supply (Water Quality)(Scotland) Regulations 2001 require the absence of organisms from treated drinking water (as indicated by total coliforms/faecal coliforms). The regulations set prescribed concentrations or values (PCVs) for 57 parameters and also require that the water does not contain any element, organism or substance at a concentration or value which would be detrimental to public health.

Water Safety

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has recently sought advice from outwith Scotland concerning the legal enforcement of clean public water standards and whether any plans are being prepared to bring Scotland into line with the best practices of other European nations.

Ross Finnie: The Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption provides a sound basis for both the consumers throughout the EU and the supplier of drinking water by setting minimum standards for drinking water. The implementation of this directive in Scotland through The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 2001 sets standards for drinking water quality that are at least as strict and in some cases far stricter than that required by the directive. Enforcement of the regulations is the responsibility of the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland (DWQRfS), who was appointed under the provisions of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, who has ample powers to secure compliance.